Thanksgiving, 70 years old, A Few Things I Am Thankful For

 

The Mayflower probably was 90 feet long (about the size of two large Class A Motorhomes put back-to-back), and around 25 wide, though we all know boats are less wide at the front and rear (bow and stern).  It carried 102 passengers and about 30 crew members...the first winter killed off 1/2 of the passengers.  Embarked from Plymouth, England, on September 16, 1620, it made landfall on Cape Cod at what is now Provincetown, Massachusetts, on November 21, 1620.  An exploring party arrived at the nearby site of Plymouth (in present-day Massachusetts) on December 21, and, according to tradition, the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock on December 26, 1620.

My confirmed Mayflower ancestors are William Brewster and his wife Mary, Stephen Hopkins and his wife Elizabeth,  John Howland. Edward Tilley and his wife Ann.  I learned about this connection back in the late 1980's...I was in my early 30's.  Ever since, Thanksgiving has been more meaningful to me.  Especially when it falls on my birthday, which won't happen again for another 3 or 4 years.  

 

Yes, I did just have my birthday a few days ago, and YES, I hit the BIG 7-0 !!!!  Enjoyed a big (BIG) Cowboy Ribeye Steak, about 3 1/2 inches thick.  It was so big, we have had leftovers twice, and still have a bit more for a roll-up or two.  Use to be able to buy these at Sams for like $40-$45...now days, it was $65!  When I turn 80, if I make it that long, it will certainly be over $100.  

 

 

Being it is Thanksgiving, I will mention a few things I am thankful for.

. . . Family and Friends, of course.  Grateful that my mom is still with us, and when I talked to her on my Birthday, she knew exactly who I was.  Thankful for my new Grandson, and of course, my Granddaughter, both of whom I saw live via the Internet on Google Meet, again on my Birthday.  And I am thankful for ALL of my family and ALL my friends

. . . Today, we paid off our new Camper Van !!!  Nice to not be in debt again.  We planned to pay it off within 18 months from when we bought it in July of 2024...we paid it off in 16 months.

. . . No Hurricanes!  Yes, if you listen to the radical Meteorologist, you will hear about the "Terrible Class 5" Hurricane Mellisa that hit Jamaica.  They seem to ignore the Tropical Cyclones that hit on the other side of the world, which together killed over 1,300 people, and did enormous damage.  Sure didn't see The Weather Channel's Jim Cantore standing out in any of those storms!  Hurricanes that the states equate to higher ratings, which is more $$$$ to the various stations that cover it.

. . . Our temperatures have been so mild these past eight weeks or so.  Today's high was around 82.  It is just past 7 pm, and it is 75 degrees.  But tomorrow's high is 70, Friday is 60, but we rebound back to 75 on Saturday.  Friday and Saturday night will require some heater time...but the cost of that is no different than the A/C we have run periodically during the day these past few weeks since we have a heat pump.  

. . . Gas is under $3 per gallon. 18 eggs under $5, sometime under $4. Car & RV insurance dropped about 5%.  Could have bought a Turkey for under $1 per pound, 49 cents if you buy $20 or more of other foods...but a full Turkey is a bit much for two people so I got a bone-in turkey breat for $1.99 per pound. Other food prices, outside of beef, have seen slight drops...but the increases have stopped for the most part.

. . . Family and Friends ... OH, I ALREADY SAID THAT, WELL, THAT IS WHAT I AM MOST GRATEFUL FOR!!!